Data from 1 million nonprofit workers show that men have an easier pathway to leadership — and suggests how to level the playing field.
April 26, 2024
Illustration by Sabrena Khadija
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The term “glass escalator” refers to the finding that men in female-dominated occupations often experience a faster and smoother rise to the upper levels of leadership than women. Why does the male advantage persist? Systemic power dynamics and gender stereotypes are pervasive across industries. Because of these stereotypes and incorrect assumptions, even in fields where there is an abundance of qualified women for leadership roles, men continue to be singled out and fast-tracked. The author offers several best practices that have been shown to tamp down the escalator effect and promote gender equality.
You’ve probably heard of the “glass ceiling”: an invisible barrier of gender bias that prevents women from reaching the top of the career ladder, especially in male-dominated industries. But are you familiar with the glass escalator?
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Cathleen Clerkin, PhD, is the associate vice president of research at Candid (a research and data nonprofit) and an affiliated research scientist at the Center for Effective Organizations at the University of Southern California. Cathleen’s research has been published broadly in both academic and popular press venues, including in her recent coauthored book, Resilience that Works: Eight Practices for Leadership and Life. Cathleen holds a BA in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and MS and PhD degrees in psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
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New!
HBR Learning
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build a better, more just workplace.
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